It was hot that day as we we came off the stream with only a couple fish betwwen us. Scotty looked over and said "this stream is just too over fished". "This stream" is the Esopus creek in upstate New York, now known more for tubing rather than its fishing. Yet every year, thousands of fisherman flock to the stream like migrating geese.

I decided to explore the smaller streams in the area. About 20 miles away is the East branch Delaware river. Into that river flows Dry brook. Dry brook is maybe twenty-feet across at the most in summer. Up the stream we went armed with five-foot ultra lights, 4lb Stren and 1/8 oz rooster tails.

Now as most of you know, fishing a small stream like this with spinners means one cast into pockets and the average fish is around seven inches. We caught about tewnty-five of those between us. Of course, we practcied catch and release. About a mile up stream it happend.

In a beautiful pool about five feet deep, Scotty cast along the bank and nailed a big brown. The drag screamed and fifteen long minutes later the five pound brown was landed.

Wow! We could not belive it.

He put the fish back in the water and back near the bank it went. A quarter mile up the stream another nice pool awaited. I cast up along the bank and of course another big brown smacked the rooster tail. This one in at about three pounds.

Maybe fishing here was so good because

we saw no signs of other fishermen along the river; no tracks at all.

the water was a very cold temp for summer - 58oF.

the Delaware runs into the Pepacton reservoir. So maybe the browns follow the rainbows up during their spawn and either get trapped in those pools, or just like the cold water.

All I know is that if you have a stream with similar factors to Dry brook, give it a shot!